Tjunta Trail at Scarborough Foreshore

BACKGROUND: Tjunta Trail is a public artwork by Paul Carter, Neville Collard and Richard Walley, as part of the Scarborough Beach redevelopment project. Located along the major beach edge north-south promenade, the ground plane of the trail tells a story, Tjunta and the Lost Children, which weaves together important, overarching themes of 'sense of place.' CONTRIBUTION: Tjunta Trail was developed through the Whadjuk Working Group consultation process. It responds to 'Scarborough Edge, a creative template for the Scarborough Redevelopment Area' which was authored by Carter in 2015 for the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA). Tjunta Trail is based on the idea that, as far as possible, interpretation and art are fused to enhance the immersive experience of the new landscape. It advocates rich story content integrated into the functional fabric and everyday activities encouraged there. In this spirit, noting that most place-making stories 'are associated with journeys,' it states: 'to tell a story is like making a track' (Scarborough Edge, 1.9). The work continues Carter's research in the poetics of place-making, public space design and creative approaches to community renewal, urban planning and policy formation. It demonstrates his contribution to the discourse and design of public spaces, through inscriptions that reveal the poetic, cultural and material aspects of sites. SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of Tjunta Trail is evidenced by its commissioning by the Western Australian Government's MRA and City of Stirling as part of a $100-million project. MRA A/Chief Executive Officer Sean Henriques said the redevelopment was a leading model for excellence in innovation and collaboration by government in the planning and delivery of a major public infrastructure development. It has won industry acclaim at the 2018 WA Urban Development Institute of Australia awards for best Government and Public Use project, and is a finalist in the National UDIA Awards.